Reasons to Be Thankful

What a weekend! See that picture? The one with the lake? That’s where I spent Thanksgiving. I know – I’m really lucky, aren’t I? Well even more important than the scenery, were the people I got to hang around with. My friend’s mother lives on this gorgeous property and every year they have family come and spend the week. They were kind enough to invite us and I jumped at the chance as I’m very fond of my friend, her family, and her mother. This is the first time in decades that I haven’t been in charge of the holiday meal, and at first I really didn’t know what to do with myself but everyone was so warm and welcoming that in no time, I felt comfortable jumping into the conversation.

Now, about the food. If you’re even a casual reader here, you know I cook too much food, have too many different dishes, and really over reach every single time I entertain. Well. These people make me look negligent! There was so much food you can’t believe it.

Here’s a prep shot – look at those root vegetables! So good. Cornbread stuffing, vegetable tray for nibbling, even peanut butter M&Ms, my favorite! (how did they know?!) This is the huge kitchen island that was so useful! We were all crowded around it, either prepping or tasting, or just talking.

Here’s part of the vegetable/sides buffet.

Meats and more sides

My plan was to take a forkful of everything and then go back for seconds on my favorites… That didn’t work so well – I was so full I couldn’t even think about seconds.

There was homemade cranberry/orange relish – but one of my secret pleasures is the canned stuff. I wait all year for an excuse to eat it.

You know, the one bad thing about going to someone else’s home for Thanksgiving is that you miss out on leftovers, right? Not here! They sent us home with so much food that it lasted till today (Monday) – I just put the last of the roasted root vegetables into the soup I just made. Nothing went to waste here!

So. Much. Fun. I’m so grateful to have friends like this who are so warm and generous and include these displaced hooligans in their celebration.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I enjoyed lots of classes that I’m taking at Lynda.com (I’m not getting paid for that link, I just love the courses!) and starting to plan 2013! Yay!